18 April 2017

New plant to produce bio-based Ethylene Oxideas a basis, with further downstream production to various end-products such as MEG and PPL

The bio-based industry in Turkey has taken a major step forward with news that the Adana Free Zone will be the site of a unique commercial scale bio-refinery built by Biokim Rafineri İşletmeleri Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. (Biokim refinery, industry and trade Co. Ltd.).

The project, announced last week at World Bio Markets in Amsterdam, will be an integrated bio-refinery in which 200 KT per annum of bio-based Ethylene Oxide will be produced as a basis, with further downstream production to various end-products such as MEG and PPL. Biokim has the ambition to use sustainable and renewable feedstock to process further downstream to products used for everyday applications that is independent from the petroleum route and therefore not using earth’s finite resources. The plant will go up to five steps downstream combining commercially proven and unique technologies, ensuring a self-economic and competitive production facility to traditional refineries.

Working together with a broad and integrated network of stakeholders worldwide, Biokim created a platform to realize the ambition of bio-based production. Using first and second generation Bio-based ethanol as feedstock, the end-products will be used in the manufacturing of everyday applications such as the car industry, furniture, filling materials, diapers and packaging materials.

Rafet Tükek, Chairman of the Executive Board of Biokim: “We have developed an innovative business model that disrupts todays conventional fossil based value chain, accelerating the transition to a bio-based, circular and thus more sustainable economy.”
The project will be implemented at the Adana Free Zone Area, located at Yumurtalık. Having all the necessary infrastructure available and the area being a duty-free zone and makes it an ideal location to export to Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

“The complex will be located and structured for international import and export, allowing more partners to join and have their downstream facility at our complex” added Mr.Tükek.

Integrated bio-refinery model.

The land has been obtained by Biokim and engineering is in progress. Site works are expected to start in Q2 2017. The production facilities including all related utility facilities and infrastructure are expected to be operational in 2020.